An Applied Using Local Wisdom to Making Ironware for Community Economic Development

1Chalor Yaekkhoksung, 1Songkoon Chantachon and 2Prasopsuk Ritthidet 1Department of Cultural Science, Research Institute of Northeastern Arts and Culture, Mahasarakham University, Thailand, 44150 2Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Faculty of Education, Rajabhat Mahasarakham University, Thailand, 44000

Abstract: Problem statement: Arts and craft were important for economics and society of northeastern people in Thailand: For all that, local wisdom to make ironware lack interest from society. This research aimed to an applied using local wisdom to make ironware for community economic development. Approach: Research method was a qualitative research which studied populations who lived in 5 provinces: Khai village, Chaiyaphum; Pai village, Buriram province; Muang Wan village, Khonkaen province; Phon village, Sisaket province and Longtong village Nakhonratchasima province. 105 Populations were selected by purposive sampling from (1) key information group (2) causal informant group (3) general informants. Structured interview, unstructured interview, participant observation and descriptive analysis were used for research instruments. Results: The study found that (1) making ironware was an applied local wisdom which had local wisdom aspects which were conventional and newly integrated thoughts regarding tools, producing instruments, ways and products. (2) Government policy of a main approach and an alternative one emphasized on self-sufficiency which was a main factor for making ironware continuously till the present time. (3) Occupational crafts were products for usefulness and aesthetics that effected on households, depending on themselves. Conclusion: Local wisdom, making ironware was a producing way between man and man, man and supernatural, man and technology in globalization which was transmitted by any gurus. Local wisdom an applied continually helped local people existing peacefully, harmony with surrounding and belief: Accordingly, all communities could be self-sufficient and sharing things or products strongly.

Key words: Making ironware, community economic development, northeastern past of Thailand

INTRODUCTION Local arts and crafts, making ironware in northeastern part of Thailand are very important for Making art and craft or ironware to apply for tools economics and society in this region because they will or equipments and weapons has been taking place in relieve unemployment of people in season in addition to Thailand for a long time Even if, at the present, it still adding their incomes [2] . Making ironware in keeps on in many areas in all regions. Art and craft northeastern part of Thailand is available in many areas, wares are divided into 2 types or follow: (1) Tools or Muang Wan village, Muang wan sub-district, equipments produced by heat method and striking- Namphong district, Khonkaen province; Nongkrabog digging tools, spade, knives, sickle and ax. (2) Wares village, Nakaew sub-district, Muang district, produced scrupulously, silver bronze and neilo wares. Sakolnakhon province; Nathon Village, Nathon sub- In addition, there is molding metals to be material-ware district, Thatpharom district, Nakhonpranom province; and other things according to local designs [1] . Local arts Klangnoi village, Wan district, Thaboa district, and crafts of ironware are important occupations as well Nongkhai province; Naleak village, Wansapung sub- as agriculture, especially for people who are in rural district, Wangsapung district, Loei province and areas and make a living with local art and craft works Nongbuathong village, Nongbuathong sub-district, People without a growing season can serve their labors Muang district, Roiet Province. Making ironware in all year long, add up incomes for their family and raise NongPhai and Tonpho villager, Thachang sub-district, more their life standard. NakhonLuang district, Ayuttaya province is very well- Corresponding Author: Chalor Yaekkholsung, Faculty of the Research Institute of Northeastern Art and Culture, Mahasarakham University, Thailand, 44150 Tel: +66-43-741686 Fax: +66-43-741686 298 J. Social Sci., 5 (4): 398-400, 2009 known on behalf of Aranyik village. Because they are and culture of people in society, being unity, the largest places in Thailand and Continue there works application, using, generating wisdom through over 200 years including with meticulous, durable, analysis process, selecting competency of decision Quality and beautiful Knives [3] . and selecting wisdom from ancestors to apply in Seeing that Local wisdom of all communities in any society and culture which all communities northeastern part of Thailand is lacking interest from realized that they were properly: Firstly, local people in Society, Communities that make a living with wisdom of a traditional approach was worshipping making iron ware are not supported to be real teacher before learning, respecting ghost, communal economics; therefore, this research focuses producing with equipments, typed and designs for on Study of an applies using local wisdom to making amulets used for components in sacrifice rite to be ironware for community economic development for fortune. Importance of local wisdom could apply prominent and well-known products besides inheriting for controlling man behavior in the same society to next generations. and virtue of ancestors who passed away could decreased conflict and bias of humans in MATERIALS AND METHODS community and support social unique, custom and tradition thorough people way of life. Secondly, This research used a qualitative research from Integrity-local wisdom with traditional and new populations in 5 Provinces: Bankhai Village, approaches was worshipping rite before learning Chaiyaphum province; Pai village, Buriram province; and respecting to a teacher after learning Muangwan village, KhonKane province; Phon village, successfully. Thirdly, local wisdom of a new Sisaket province and Longtong village, approach was production with new technology to Nakhonratchasima province. Populations were 105 be convenience and Fast in Produce. In addition persons who were selected by Purposive Sampling as there were designs and various products thorough following: consumers’ needs and highly competitive markets • National development, on government policy of a

major approach and an alternative one focused on • Key informant group were 30 persons and could economic developing and human oriented in inform in depth regarding wisdom in striking development besides self. Sufficient development. metals, for example, government sector, private They were main factors helping making ironware sector and Community sector from local wisdom to be continuous till the present • Casual informant group were 50 persons; they were time. All products were supported by emphasizing persons who related to striking metals-owners, on beauty, shape applying, designs, market system blacksmiths and blacksmith club tool integration, transferring to others people, • General informant group were people who live in interested and sales promotion with arts and crafts and out communities, however relating to exhibition of communities in any places ironware, 20 persons • Occupationally work products were products for utilization and aesthetics and resulted in Instruments which collected data were structure households and communities earning income interview except participant observation and data frequently through a community developing analysis was presented by descriptive analysis. approach which people could be self-efficiency, an applied suitable technology tools, developed in to

market systems to create power with production RESULTS groups and suited for A National social and economic development plan of the 10th (2007- The research findings were found as follow: 2011). This plan emphasized on human oriented to make people depend on themselves including with • Making ironware or tools from metals was an human quality development and Thai society to applied local wisdom, which had originally local wisdom and learning society, in addition to wisdom (old and new thoughts) in both creating strength of community and society to be a equipments, tools, types and products. Culture- strong basis, adjusting economic structure to be applied theory could-be described that it was balance and sustainable, developing among various integrity and harmony between human life and natural, creating resources and environmental base environment thorough balance of relation system 399 J. Social Sci., 5 (4): 398-400, 2009

security and strengthening moral principal in dependency of community can’t operate any activities administration, management of country [4] alone. Each household must be dependable to one DISCUSSION another to share thoughts, labors, material, or products; therefore, joining or building chains should start from In community economic aspects and managing in men who are interested in simple Jobs to important making ironware, blacksmiths in 5 areas consisted of: ones till the many in communities, finally resulting in Khai village, Chaiyaphum Province; Phai village, outside of communities in aspects of proceeding Buriram Province; Muangwan village, KhonKaen; complete activities. Above all, any organizations which Phon village, Seisaket Province; Longtong, are the keys to community’s development should study Nakhonratchasima. Each area operated in household into communal people’s needs and their contexts before levels and in different incomes and applied local proceeding development in order to meet communal wisdom for production; moreover, they supported local people’s needs. economics to be distribution and self-efficiency in household levels [5] . Organizations were set to be ACKNOWLEDGEMENT productions and objects and could explain with function structure theory which stated that Society in certain The researchers express their sincere appreciation borders was self-regulating or self-control with for all of support provided and the referees for their tendency of components which were self-dependence helpful comments. and Equilibrium in line with communal economics which people in community used or applied their REFERENCES knowledge to make a living in not only production but also distribution besides self-dependence. In order to 1. Sati, P., J. Dhamawat, P. Pratepha and S. Rittidech, operate production with plan and cooperation between 2005. Changes in the conscious mind in applying producing groups that effected on groups’ incomes that technology for growing rice at the Chee River operated together in their daily life and communal Basin in Northeastern of Thailand. J. Soc. Sci., economics that was strong enough to be self- 1: 172-177. dependence, There was self-sufficiency theory to http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/jss/jss13172-177.pdf explain sufficiency economy, as: (1) sufficiency is for 2. Nartsupha, C., 2003. The Thai village economy in all people and households but it was reckless the past. J. Econ. History, 63: 265-266. economics. (2) Sufficient mind, helping others. (3) http://ideas.repec.org/a/cup/jechis/v63y2003i01p26 Sufficient environment, conserving and mounting 5-266_33.html Environment which was a basics of occupations. (4) 3. Wilart, P., N. Art and R. Prasopsuk, 2008. The Sufficient and strong community, assembling to solve social Adjustment of the Kuy People to a any problems, for example, social, poverty and Multicultural context in southern Isan Thailand. J. environment problems. (5) Sufficient wisdom, learning Soc. Sci., 4: 343-346. together to catch up with world changing. (6) Sufficient http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/jss/jss44343- culture, on account of related economics and growing 346.pdf from cultural bases, meant that people’s way of life 4. Sata, W., V. Vinai., P. Bowjai and P. Rithidet, related to environment and became secure economics. 2008. Environmental change of Lompao dam (7) Sufficient Security, It was not quickly changeable communities in Northeast Thailand. J. Soc. Sci., till humans could not accept. 4: 334-337. http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/jss/jss44334- CONCLUSION 337.pdf 5. Wongpongkam, N., S. Chantachon and S. Ieamvijarn , Making ironware is competency of Thai, Laotian 2009. A study of Isan and Lao indigenous and Cambodians that is relayed for along time and knowledge in Making Bronze and Brass Products various generations and, is production way which for commercial purpose. Soc. Sci., 4: 191-195. derived from relationship between man and man as well http://www.medwelljournals.com/fulltext/TSS/200 as man and supernatural. Man and technology in 9/191-195.pdf globalization obtain relaying from local gurus and also grouping or building chains is a main factor to develop potential of production from local wisdom in striking iron. Thus, there can be conclusion that self- 400